Portland Bulk Terminals

Portland, Oregon

Portland Bulk Terminals, L.L.C. (Portland Bulk Terminals) is wholly owned by Canpotex and operated by SSA Pacific, Inc. Operating since 1997, this terminal is a potash bulk-handling facility located on the Columbia River system in Portland, Oregon. Portland Terminals facilitates efficient handling of specialty potash products (particularly white potash) and provides a load port alternative for Canpotex potash shipments worldwide.

Canpotex is investing approximately US$150 million as part of its overall supply chain strategy to improve the efficiency of its shiploading and rail operations, and to optimize the management of Canpotex’s specialty white potash at Portland Bulk Terminals. This project will extend the life of the terminal’s infrastructure and improve the facility’s overall safety, health and environmental performance. This investment should also add to the efficiency of the rail transportation system in the Pacific Northwest corridor and create significant and sustainable economic and environmental benefits to the region.

Site Features

• Portland Bulk Terminals is a potash bulk-handling facility located at Terminal 5 in the Port of Portland, approximately 177 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean
• The site occupies 100 acres of land leased from the Port of Portland, in accordance with state and federal regulations
• Portland Bulk Terminals is wholly owned by Canpotex
• Portland Bulk Terminals is operated by SSA Marine, Inc., with oversight provided by Canpotex

Rail

• Three loop tracks can accommodate three Canpotex unit trains on-site, or 390 railcars
• Two on-site locomotives and two traction slugs (7,000 HP combined)
• Enclosed gravity-fed dumper pit can accommodate four railcars

Storage

• Warehouse, with approximately 135,000 tonnes of potash storage capacity, has six separate storage bays – four bays for specialty white potash products, and two for red potash
• Warehouse specifications – 635.5 metres long, 48.8 metres wide and 25.9 metres high
• Separate portal reclaimers for red and white potash, each with a rated capacity of approximately 3,000 tonnes/hour
• A second warehouse is under construction and will give Canpotex up to 100,000 tonnes of additional storage capacity

Delivery System

• A stainless steel enclosed conveyor delivery system minimizes dust emissions
• Vertical drops at all transfer points of the conveyor system have been designed to ensure optimum product integrity
• Separate delivery belts and cascade chutes for handling of red and white product ensure elimination of cross-contamination, and gentle delivery of product into storage or onto the vessel
• Conveyor configuration can deliver product to storage or directly to the vessel
• Delivery of products to the vessel is computer controlled from the ship’s deck
• Single covered linear shiploader with a rated capacity of 6,000 tonnes/hour
• The site utilizes a dry dust collection system to ensure it remains environmentally responsible

Berth Specifications

Other Resources

For more information on SSA Marine and the Port of Portland, please visit the links below:

• SSA Marine
• Port of Portland

Terminal Contacts